“Yes, sir.” He cleared his throat. “They’re trying an experimental treatment on him while it’s still early.”
“Did they put him in with the other infected?”
“Negative, sir. His reaction was…” he trailed off, searching for the right words.
“Accelerated?”
“No, sir. Quite the opposite.” The CDO tried to remember exactly what the researcher told him. “He had been infected by a subject that was undergoing the treatment. From what I understand, the subject was responding well, appeared even to have some returning cognizance, but Dr. Carpenter was infected. The virus is reacting much slower, but he does test positive for it in his blood.”
Colonel Vickers leaned back in his chair and swiveled it slowly side to side. “And they’re going to use the same treatments on him as they did the test subject?”
The CDO shrugged. “They weren’t specific in what treatment options they were going to use, only that they wanted to start now, even though Dr. LaRue is in the field.”
Vickers nodded. “Keep me apprised of his condition.” He initialed the report and handed it back to him. “If there’s any change, I want to know.”
The CDO nodded. “Of course, sir.” He paused and gave the colonel a curious look. “Is there a reason why you are so interested in this particular researcher, sir?”
Vickers shook his head. “Nope. It’s just been a while since we had a fresh infection.” He lowered his pen and eyed the man. “I’m curious if this slower infection rate is because the virus was weakened by the treatment, or if the damned thing has mutated again and now it simply acts slower.”
“Understood, sir.” The CDO snapped a salute and did an about-face.
Vickers watched him leave, then reached for his coffee. If people could walk around infected for days before their symptoms manifested, his job could have gotten a whole lot tougher.
Roger hid behind a double row of abandoned cars and pulled his binoculars. He focused on the RV’s, tents, and trailers set up around the public park. The grass had almost all turned brown from the lack of water and kids played listlessly on the playground. Apparently, even playing could lose its luster.
He tried to locate Savage’s RV and finally spotted it along the furthest row. Parked nearly at the end, he watched as the big man pulled open the door and stepped inside.
Roger dipped below the fender, out of eyesight from those meandering through the makeshift village and pulled his radio. “Got yer ears on?”
There was a short kick of static before Candy’s voice came through the tiny speaker. “You know I do. I’ve been on pins and needles since you left.”
“I think you can relax. I’m seeing zero activity over here. I hedged my bet on Mike and it looks like I read him right. There’s nothing going on that would suggest he sold us out.”
He could almost feel the tension through the radio. “It’s kind of early to make that call, don’t ya think?”
Roger smiled to himself and peered over the fender again. “I have to disagree. I know Simon. If he had the slightest inkling I were alive, he’d be putting together a posse post haste.”
There was a pregnant silence he wasn’t sure how to read. When she came back across, her message was short and sweet. “Fine. Get back now. Out.”
He heard another short burst of static and knew she had turned her radio off. He grunted to himself as he tucked the unit back into his pocket. “No time like the present.”
Roger stood, but stayed bent below the cabin of the car. He heard a pump shotgun being cycled and froze.
“Squirrel?” Roger turned slowly and faced one of the members, his shotgun slowly lowering as he recognized him. “I heard you was dead.”
Roger shot him his award-winning smile. “I fear the rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.”
The man cocked his head to the side and gave him a confused look. “Huh?”
Roger stood erect and approached the sentry. “Sorry to have spooked you, bud.” He stepped closer and glanced in opposite directions to ensure they weren’t observed. “Simon sent me on a secret mission. That’s why I shaved my beard.” He gave the man a lopsided smile. “He’s convinced the guy in the military truck came from around here. He said if I cleaned up a bit and did some sniffing around, I might could flush out his group.”
The man’s eyes widened, and he nodded, his feeble mind trying to keep up. “So, you’re not dead?”
Roger fought the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Technically, no. But Simon wants everybody to think I am. It’s all part of his plan.”
The sentry nodded. “I gotcha.” He looked over the cars to the camp. “But why are you here if you’re undercover?”
“I got hungry. You know a hungry dog always goes home to eat.” He winked at the man and wrapped an arm over his shoulder, leading him away from the cars. “I don’t guess you have a sandwich on you, do you?”
“No, I don’t carry food when I’m on du—”
Roger twisted the man’s neck midsentence and slowly lowered him to the ground while his body convulsed. He tucked the shotgun under his arm and took the man by one arm, dragging him backward toward a building.
“I’m sorry, buddy. You didn’t deserve that.” He pulled him to the rear of the building and rolled him down a gentle embankment. “But I can’t risk anybody finding out I’m not dead.” He stood and glanced back at the camp. “Not yet, anyway.”
Chapter 14
“You get this chopper out of the zone if you suspect anything.” Hollis checked his weapon as the craft made a slow approach. He tapped the pilot. “I’m serious, Bud. You get an itch someplace that shouldn’t ought to itch, you put this bird in the air.”
“Read you five by
